Peyton Manning didn’t need the Broncos to secure his bust in Canton. Thirteen years with the Indianapolis Colts throwing for 54,828 passing yards to go with 399 touchdowns was enough. The 35-year-old quarterback couldn’t feel his fingertips for years prior to the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion that forced him out of the 2011 season. Few would have blamed him for walking away with what remained of his body intact.
Instead, the Sheriff signed with the Denver Broncos.
It was a roster rife with as many question marks as promises. John Elway’s first season in the front office was considered a smashing success thanks to the miraculous play of Tim Tebow, a quarterback who knocked the 12-4 Steelers out of the playoffs on perhaps the most overrated throw in NFL history.
To his credit, the Broncos’ general manager saw an 8-8 team with a fullback under center and sold to Manning how good it could be with an All-Time great. That one move should have been enough for him to win Executive of the Year. Instead it went to Ryan Grigson because Andrew Luck saved the house that Peyton built from irrelevance after his absence led to the worst record in football. Manning’s replacement was good enough to steer the Colts to three straight 11-5 seasons to start his career before Grigson’s mistakes crashed down on him. In the end, Luck was not enough to replace the man who defines Indianapolis in modern NFL history.
Until the end, Peyton Manning was the tide that lifted all boats. His decision to join the Broncos turned a fringe playoff contender into a Super Bowl favorite. It took two stints in the AFC East before the world caught on to how little Adam Gase mattered to the Manning offense. Between the lines was Peyton’s place, and he owned every part of it like no one ever will again.
It’s fitting that a man defined by his mental processing will owe so much of his legacy to the choice he made. We know about Arizona, San Francisco, and Tennessee, yet in the end it didn’t matter. Peyton Manning wanted to wear the orange and blue. What’s equally fitting is how a man who defines the Denver Broncos showed no hesitation to seek out and employ who is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. John Elway’s legacy as a general manager is defined by the Manning era. Four magical years that will outlive any one of us.
The Duke’s own struggles to replicate even a shadow of that success since only exacerbates what should be obvious: the pair were a match made in football heaven. Elway found a way to build the perfect Manning offense and Peyton broke records with it.
When it became clear the defensive side of the ball would need more juice to win the Super Bowl, Elway leveraged the draw of a G.O.A.T to build one of the best defenses in NFL history and brought in the perfect coach for one last ride. As Manning’s body failed him, the No Fly Zone carried him to the promised land.
Peyton Manning did all he could to lift the Denver Broncos and in return John Elway did everything he could to send him off with a Lombardi.
Both succeeded.
Your Broncos’ News
No Fly Zone. Best secondary in NFL history - Mile High Report
Period.
Denver Broncos: Von Miller celebrates Super Bowl 50 season on Instagram - Mile High Report
In other news yesterday, Von Miller has photos of him as a member of the Denver Broncos on his Instagram account. So fear not.
The ‘15 Denver Broncos season: A benched Peyton Manning saves the day - Mile High Report
Peyton Manning’s comeback drama in Week 17 against the Chargers doesn’t happen without the tragedy of Week 10 against the Chiefs.
Should the Denver Broncos extend Phillip Lindsay or tender him? - Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos have a decision to make on Phillip Lindsay. Should to commit to him long-term or just keep him going on one year deals?
The Broncos had the least productive rookie class in 2020 - Mile High Report
In an article ranking the most productive rookie classes in 2020, PFF had Denver dead last. The rankings took several factors into account, including Wins Above Replacement (WAR). While rankings like this make fans feel as if PFF just doesn’t like the Broncos, I think these kind of articles tell a different story.
Ranking the NFL’s most productive 2020 rookie draft classes from 1 to 32 | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF
Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins led the Bengals’ class. The Bucs got value at the top of their draft, too. With just one game left of the 2020 NFL season, PFF ranks the NFL’s most productive 2020 rookie draft classes from 1 to 32.
Be the GM: Denver Broncos Vote Mock 3.0 - Mile High Report
Who should the Broncos draft?
Deshaun Watson’s Ex-Teammate Says QB Has ‘Interest’ In Trade To Denver
“I had a couple of conversations with him,” Jackson said of Watson. “Just with him saying that Denver is a place that’s he’s interested in landing.” “I mean, if Deshaun Watson goes anywhere, they are automatically contenders,” Jackson said. “If he has pieces around him, he’s an automatic contender.” Don’t get it twisted ... Jackson says the Broncos LOVE Drew Lock and the progression he’s made — the defensive back just says Deshaun is that “special.” “He can turn any franchise around.”
Three Reasons Deshaun Watson Will Cost Denver Broncos Way More Than Fans Think - Sports Illustrated Mile High Huddle: Denver Broncos News, Analysis and More
In all likelihood, the Texans will insist on offensive and defensive players under rookie contracts as part of a trade package — unless they get a suitable amount of draft picks in return.
The Broncos biggest issue is becoming irrelevant - Mile High Report
The Broncos are slowly becoming an afterthought in the NFL and that has to change
NFL News
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell writes to President Biden offering all stadiums as vaccine sites
The NFL is telling the federal government it will make the remaining of the league’s 30 stadiums available as COVID-19 vaccination sites, joining the seven facilities already administering the vaccine.
Chiefs OLB coach Britt Reid, son of HC Andy Reid, involved in multi-car crash
Kansas City Chiefs outside linebackers coach Britt Reid, son of head coach Andy Reid, was involved in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday night that left a 5-year-old with life threatening injuries, according to Kansas City (Missouri) Police.
Chiefs assistant Britt Reid was drinking before crash, child has life-threatening injuries - ProFootballTalk
The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday on Interstate 435 near the Chiefs’ practice facility. Reid reportedly told police that the pickup truck he was driving hit a car that had pulled over after running out of gas, as well as another vehicle that had come to assist that vehicle. The two children were in the second vehicle.
“The organization has been made aware of a multi-vehicle accident involving outside linebackers coach Britt Reid,” the team said in a statement. “We are in the process of gathering information, and we will have no further comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”
Report: Cameron Brate is expected to play in Super Bowl LV - ProFootballTalk
Wide receiver Antonio Brown (knee) is the other questionable Bucs player. He was a full participant in practice the last two days.
The Week In Quotes: February 5, 2021 | Football Outsiders
“This is why you play the game. I’m trying to get in the Hall of Fame one day. When I retire, I want to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is the reason you play the game. I want to retire with like six or seven rings.”
Super Bowl LV Preview | Football Outsiders
Football Outsiders’ DVOA ratings, on the other hand, favor Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay finished the regular season second in total DVOA while Kansas City was only sixth (fifth if we don’t count the Week 17 game where the Chiefs sat starters). When we add in the playoffs, Tampa Bay moves to No. 1 in both total DVOA and weighted DVOA (which gives more weight to recent games). Kansas City, ignoring Week 17, is now third. Our ratings have said that Tampa Bay is underrated for weeks now. Tampa Bay had not fallen out of the top three in DVOA since Week 4, even when their record fell to 7-5. In addition, at no point since Week 4 has Tampa Bay had a lower DVOA than Kansas City, enclusive of all games played to that point.
The problem is what we’ve been calling the Kansas City “flip the switch” theory. The idea is that the Chiefs deliberately took things easy when they had a late lead in regular-season games. This led to a number of games where the Chiefs’ win expectancy never really fell below 95% but the score ended up close because of late scores by the opposition.
Film Room: Chiefs Offense vs. Bucs Defense | Football Outsiders
The Chiefs posted their third-best passing DVOA performance of the regular season against the Bucs defense. The Chiefs passing offense only fared better in two games all season: against the Ravens in Week 3 and the Jets in Week 8. On 49 passing attempts against Tampa Bay, Patrick Mahomes racked up 37 completions for 462 yards and three touchdowns to zero interceptions. The MVP candidate found almost everything he wanted all day long.
Super Bowl 2021: A strategy guide to help you understand the Chiefs
You know the Kansas City Chiefs are basically unstoppable. But let us explain how Andy Reid gets the most out of Patrick Mahomes.
Super Bowl 2021: Breaking down Super Bowl 55 with The Counter podcast
We broke down the matchup in-depth with special guests Namita Nandakumar, a former quantitive analyst with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Keegan Abdoo, an analyst at Next Gen Stats, on the latest full-length episode of the podcast, as well.
Trey Lance scouting profile for 2021 Cowboys draft
Trey Lance out of North Dakota State is one of the most intriguing and controversial players in this year’s class.
Going Beyond EPA To Show How Matthew Stafford Helps The Rams More Than Jared Goff | Sharp Football
Matthew Stafford can improve the Rams in ways that raw EPA can’t quantify.
Bucs’ success of Brady signing has NFL eyeing massive QB movement
Last March, Tampa Bay went all in with the signing of Tom Brady, a get-rich-quick scheme that paid off handsomely. Now, after the Bucs’ success, many in this copycat league are bracing for falling dominos, with unprecedented quarterback movement this offseason
Lavonte David recalls Brady’s NFC title postgame message: ‘What the (expletive) you crying for?’
Lavonte David’s eyes have seen a lot in Tampa Bay, and for his first eight seasons there, most of it wasn’t good. Multiple head coaches, multiple coordinators, but just one winning season. But that all changed in March of this past year.
Report: Eagles are “close to trading” Carson Wentz - ProFootballTalk
The Colts continue to be the top potential destination for Wentz, who would be reunited with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Colts G.M. Chris Ballard tiptoed around the topic on Friday. The Bears also have been named as a potential destination.
Per the report, the Eagles “have placed a high asking price on Wentz.” The fact that Wentz reportedly prefers to leave the Eagles could make it hard for the Eagles to get the kind of package they’d prefer.
Trevor Lawrence set to throw early for teams to allow for repair of left shoulder labrum
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who’s declared for the 2021 NFL Draft and is projected by many to be the top overall pick, will throw for NFL teams on Feb. 12 rather than Clemson’s pro day so he can have a newly discovered injury to his left shoulder
Trey Lance scouting profile for 2021 Cowboys draft
Trey Lance out of North Dakota State is one of the most intriguing and controversial players in this year’s class.
Going Beyond EPA To Show How Matthew Stafford Helps The Rams More Than Jared Goff | Sharp Football
Matthew Stafford can improve the Rams in ways that raw EPA can’t quantify.
Mike Zimmer on Kirk Cousins: “Kirk’s our guy” - ProFootballTalk
“Kirk’s our guy,” Zimmer said Friday on NFL Network. “You know, he had a terrific year this year. We were fourth in the league on offense. We have to get better on defense — we had a lot of injuries and young guys — that’s my job to get it fixed.”
Saints renegotiate QB Drew Brees’ contract, free up cap space in 2021
As the world continues to wait for an update on Drew Brees, the Saints made an important move regarding the veteran’s contract.
Kyle Allen more than halfway to a “full recovery” after ankle surgery - ProFootballTalk
“I’ll be ready,” Allen said Friday during an Instagram Live, via NBC Sports Washington. “Today marked 12 weeks since my surgery, so I think cautiously full recovery is 20 weeks so probably another eight weeks.”